4 Ways To Preserve Fresh Strawberries For Post-Winter Cocktails
In several parts of the world with temperate climates, strawberries are considered summer fruits. Not in India, though.
These juicy, tart and sweet berries were brought along to the subcontinent by the British in the 19th Century, and harvested in Mahabaleshwar, a hill station in the Deccan where the British headed every year, to escape the wrath of the scorching summers.
Hence, strawberries are cultivated in the country only in autumn, between October to November and April to May, right before the onset of the peak summer season. These berries, since their introduction, have become a significant part of the winter and post-winter gastronomic offerings. Strawberry milkshakes, made with chunks of fresh strawberries, are especially popular in the western coastal cities of Mumbai and Goa as a street stall beverage.
It’s also the base for many other drinks—non-alcoholic and alcoholic—from Strawberry iced tea to Strawberry Daiquiri cocktail. Since strawberry season is short, and sourcing fresh strawberries post the harvest season is both difficult and expensive, restaurants and other businesses often stash their strawberry haul in cold storage units. At home though, learning a few tricks can help one effectively preserve strawberries all year long.
Here are some of the most popular methods of preserving strawberries that you can do at home without investing in any specialised equipment.
Freezing Strawberries
When done correctly, frozen strawberries retain much of their original flavour, colour as well as nutritional value. To freeze the berries, rinse, dry and hull the strawberries before placing them on a tray lined with butter paper with a 1-finger gap in between them.
Freeze the berries for three hours, and transfer them into an airtight container. You can store them for up to six months.
Whenever you intend to use the berries, thaw them in the refrigerator for a few hours.
Pickling Strawberries
Pickled strawberries have a rather unique, sharp taste that complements gin, vodka and tequila cocktails. The way one can pickle them is by first hulling and quartering the berries, and immersing them in a pickle brine made with apple cider vinegar, water, and sugar with optional spices such as basil leaves or coriander seeds.
Seal the sterilised jar and keep it in the refrigerator for at least a year.
Dehydrating Strawberries
Dehydrating berries is essentially removing the water content in them, making them shelf-stable and easy to store. They also have a concentrated flavour that adds tanginess to any drink they are incorporated in.
One needs to only put them in an oven with the lowest temperature setting for about 6 hours.
Once the berries are crisp and have no moisture in them, transfer them to an airtight container and store them in a darker space for up to a year.
Strawberry Syrup
Strawberry syrup is a quick and easy way to infuse any cocktail drink with the essence of strawberries, without having any fresh berries at hand.
To make this concoction, boil equal parts of water, sugar, and sliced strawberries over low heat till the strawberries soften and disintegrate. Then, strain it to separate the solids from the juice left behind. Put it back on the heat and simmer it for a few minutes till the liquid slightly thickens.
Once it has come down to room temperature, pour it into an airtight jar and refrigerate it for up to a month.
Drink responsibly. This communication is intended for audiences aged 25 and above.
